Ponting Quaking in His Boots.Part 2.

[Zainub]

You've got me wrong John,

I don't doubt England's chances of winning the Ashes one bit, I'd love that, and as a matter of fact, or for the record, I'd be very enthusiastically following the Ashes in the hope that they do, what I did say though, that Australia are never going to make it seem like that in the public that they are concerned by England's performance, a few of their players might have at most suggested that they have taken notice of England's improvement, but I doubt even those few are any less confident about them winning then the others who don't even give England a chance, the McGrath Brigade I like to call them.

Otherwise I'm in complete agreement with you, it takes a lot of guts to back your side to do something no one expects them to do, I will not only praise those England suporters who think England will win after they have actually won, because then everyone will do that, but I also praise them now Ernie is the best

[Beny]

Did'nt the last 'Ponting' thread end up being moved to the secondry fourm and a few posts being deleated?


If McGrath, Warne and Gilshrist get injured then it may be a close contest. Othrwise its going to be over in 3 games each ending in 3 days...

[Ernest]

Indeed it did Beny, but it's back to stay .

I reckon, and I am being serious, if McGrath was injured, it would be worse for England, because Australia might just have a secret repacement, so I drink his health.

[Mike_Hock]

I don't think for one minute the Aussies will be stronger without Mcgrath. After all he is the best bowler in the world at present.

[redback]

Okay The poms have improved since the last white wash ( Ashes ) can someone honestly say that you can get 20 aussies out and score enough runs over 5 days ( do they still play 5 days we dont in australia )

Also its a 5 test series i predict it will be 3-1 to aussies again sorry but i cannot see england applying the mental pressure required to knock the aussies off As warnie said it will be his last ashes tour and he will not let it end in a loss

[Mike_Hock]

My heart says 2-1 Eng, my head says 2-1 Aus

[Seamer]

England will look like they are on top at times but it only takes one bad session and it will all turn around very quickly. It is true that England are stronger now, but so are the Aussies. My heart says 3-2 to Australia but my head says 4-0 to Australia

[Kirsty Harris]

Originally Posted by Richie Benauds Love Child

Ponting, or any of the aussies, wont be quaking in their boots over anyone, let alone england...The Aussies are clear favourites

Well, RBLC - I think that although the Aussies are far and away the best side in the world, they will be getting a much more stiff challenge from England than in recent years. England have proved that they are consistantly the 2nd best side in the world - no mean feet for a side that only a few years ago were at the bottom of the class!!! So therefore, while they might not be quaking in their boots, they have had plenty of food for thought from England's performance in recent months. I expect a good fight from England this summer - it may well be in vein, but I don't suppose for one minute it will be a walkover for the Aussies either.

It does depend alot on Harmison, of course - if we can get him back to his post-winter form, then that will be a major boost to the side. And I hope that Flintoff gets his ankle sorted out too, by then - should have had it done last year, IMO!

I do think we can have some hope that england will, at least, give them a run for their money this time around, which will be a joy to watch in itself!!

[Occasional Fan]

Originally Posted by redback

Okay The poms have improved since the last white wash ( Ashes ) can someone honestly say that you can get 20 aussies out and score enough runs over 5 days ( do they still play 5 days we dont in australia )

Also its a 5 test series i predict it will be 3-1 to aussies again sorry but i cannot see england applying the mental pressure required to knock the aussies off As warnie said it will be his last ashes tour and he will not let it end in a loss

Redback: A few points:

1. The last Ashes series was not a whitewash. Australia won it 4-1.
2. The last time England played Australia in a test match, England won. (And don't give me any of that "dead rubber" stuff: a win is a win, and in Australia we needed one! I know that, because I saw the first three tests in the series!)
3. If it is 3-1 to Australia this summer, that will be an improvement for England, the last two series both having been 4-1 to Australia. (And don't give me any of that "English weather" stuff either: it's our weather, we're proud of it, and if we want a couple of days' snow in August, we'll jolly well have them!)

I'm not making my prediction yet, other than that I don't think England will win The Ashes this year. They'll win them in Australia in 2006/7. But take a look at the avatar, my friend: the urn stays at Lord's in any case!

[Goatman]

Originally Posted by Seamer

England will look like they are on top at times but it only takes one bad session and it will all turn around very quickly. It is true that England are stronger now, but so are the Aussies. My heart says 3-2 to Australia but my head says 4-0 to Australia

If its a X-0 scoreline, I'll be a bit dissappointed. ENG are a good enough team to take a rubber against AUS this time. By which I mean that if AUS play at 100%, they will win - period. We can't touch that. But no team, no matter how good, plays at 100% every match - though they have not exactly struggled to win (indication of how strong they are...), I feel that AUS were well below maximum at times against NZ and PAK. And unlike NZ and PAK, ENG are a good enough team to turn over a less than maximum performance. They'll have to play 100% themselves to do it, but they are good enough.

My heart says 3-2 to ENG (like seamer, I never like to see a draw! ). My head says 3-1 - stretching to 2-1 if ENG get the weather behind them .